Hair produces natural oil, known as sebum, to keep the scalp moisturized and healthy. The amount of oil secretion depends on an individual’s hair type, lifestyle, and hair habits. Sebum can sometimes get accumulated at the root of the hair, which imparts a greasy look to the hair.

From unhealthy hair habits to wrong hair care products and scalp diseases, there are different causes of oily, greasy hair.

This type of hair can be a big turn-off. But, is it possible to control oiliness, or is it an essential evil? 

Keep reading to find out the causes, symptoms, and the best ways to manage oily and greasy hair.

Table of Contents:

• Causes
• A Vulnerable Hair Type
• Excess Shampooing
• Dirty Hairbrush
• Wrong Hair Products
• Dandruff
• Locking your Locks Up at Night
• Humid Conditions
• Hormonal Changes
• Fiddling Too Much with Hair
• Vitamin B Deficiency
• Symptoms
• Products that Offer the Best Haircare for Oily Hair
• Activated Charcoal & Keratin Shampoo
• Himalayan Rose Shampoo and Conditioner
• WOW Apple Cider Vinegar Shampoo

Causes

About 24 hours after you wash your hair, it starts to be oily and greasy. Reasons that lay behind this issue can be different: from the build-up of dirt, grime, and other pollutants, to the secretion of sebum on the scalp. This accumulation is natural and can be easily cleared with some regular shampooing.

When hair gets clogged with build-up more readily than usual, we can say that the person has oily hair. In those cases, many factors, including excessive humidity and vigorous exercise, can lead to dirt build-up.

Here are some common causes of greasy and oily hair:

A Vulnerable Hair Type

Straight hair is more vulnerable to an oily or greasy look. This is because straight hair is just that – straight, without any texture that can hold the oil from easily sliding down the shaft. As a result, oil collects over the scalp, and the greasiness is more visible when the hair hangs straight.

Excess Shampooing

An oily look can result from excess shampooing. When you wash and shampoo your hair, it is a signal to the scalp to start producing more sebum. When you wash it too frequently, the sebum goes into a hyper mode, signaling overproduction of sebum. This excess production gives a greasy look to your locks. 

Dirty Hairbrush

Yes, the brush you use can be a culprit hiding in plain sight!

If you regularly style your hair, your brush is an instrument you use daily. The brush houses dirt, grime, pollutants, and the remains of products used on the hair. This accumulation gets transferred to your hair when you use it without cleaning. Even fresh, clean hair catches up with the build-up on the brush, which can result in your locks appearing oily and greasy.

Wrong Hair Products

You may be washing your hair without applying any shampoo, using conditioner alone on the hair. This habit can result in oily build-up. Natural scalp oil cannot be broken down with water alone. Skipping the shampoo routine is not going to remove the oil from the hair. In fact, you will find your hair oily a few hours after washing.

Hair products with sulfates, mineral oil, artificial colors, and petroleum, can make your hair greasy. Invest time in choosing products that are free of the above ingredients.

You may want to consider WOW Skin Science haircare products formulated using only natural ingredients extracted from a range of plant actives. These products are 100% natural and free of sulfates and parabens. They do not have artificial fragrances or harmful chemicals that can damage your scalp and hair.  

Dandruff

Dandruff is often associated with hair dryness. So, where does the oily look come from?

Your locks may get drier with dandruff, but the roots get oilier due to this condition. With dandruff on the scalp, your hair produces more sebum, which in turn clogs the pores. Clogged pores can cause dry scalp and hair.

Locking your Locks Up at Night

Tying hair up to avoid tangling can result in an oily hair look. With the strands high up on the head, all the sebum gets focused on the scalp. Oil does not have any path to flow through the strands, causing your hair to look greasy at the roots.

Humid Conditions

There are environmental factors you cannot control. Among them is high humidity, which causes heavy sweating. Sweating is a reason for a faster build-up of oil in the hair, leading to a greasy look.

Hormonal Changes

Hormonal changes can be a result of genetics, medications, or factors such as pregnancy and menstruation. These hormonal changes can affect your oil glands and send them into overdrive.

A week before menstruation, for example, progesterone and estrogen levels rise. As the time nears, levels of androgen increase while estrogen falls in production. These changes affect the skin and hair as the oil glands are more concentrated here. The changes manifest in the form of greasy hair.

Fiddling Too Much with Hair

If you touch your hair or rub your scalp frequently throughout the day, then this action moves oil in your hands to your hair roots.

Vitamin B Deficiency

Vitamin B is important to maintain proper sebum levels. A deficiency of this vitamin can lead to sebum imbalance, which can result in an oily look.

Symptoms

It is important to be able to identify signs of chronically oily hair. In most cases, a simple hair wash can get rid of oiliness in your hair. But if your hair is constantly oily, even after you wash it, you may have chronically oily hair.

Below are some signs that indicate oily or greasy hair:

• Your hair is always oily, even after a wash
• There is flakiness
• The scalp is itchy
• You keep feeling that your hair is dirty no matter how much you clean it

Products that Offer the Best Haircare for Oily Hair

Oily hair may make you feel unsightly. However, cosmetic reasons apart, there are other reasons why oily hair may not be good for you.

Excess oil production can lead to flaky hair. It facilitates bacterial growth, which, when combined with flakiness, can lead to redness and inflamed skin. Left ignored, this condition can affect healthy hair growth.

Overproduction of sebum can clog hair pores, so nourishers can’t reach hair strands. In many cases, clogged pores are the starting point for hair conditions such as scalp acne.

Excess sebum can interfere with the skin cell regeneration process in which new cells keep forming while old cells get shed by the body. With too much sebum, the dead cells get clogged in the pores, preventing new cells from reaching the surface. It affects hair health and growth.

Try not to wash your hair often, and when you do, use lukewarm water. Hot water tends to dry the scalp, which results in increased oil production. 

Keep your hairbrush and styling instruments clean to avoid contaminant build-up on the scalp. Brush the scalp daily to allow the oil from the scalp to slide through the strands.

If you are looking for ways to manage oily hair, then the products listed here can help. Include them in your hair care routine for noticeable results.

Activated Charcoal & Keratin Shampoo

The powerful combination of plant actives performs the dual action of removing impurities from hair while keeping strands nourished. The formulation also contains a line of essential oils that soothe the scalp and keep it moisturized. Get the double advantage of scalp detox and enrichment with the Activated Charcoal & Keratin Shampoo.

Activated charcoal is a form of carbon derived by using specific techniques. This process increases the surface area of carbon, which gives it the ability to suck impurities. From excess sebum to soothing the scalp and treating dandruff, this ingredient has several benefits for the hair.

Activated charcoal absorbs toxins from hair without being rough. As a result, the natural hydration of hair and scalp remains undisturbed.

The deep cleansing helps in getting rid of itchiness, dandruff, and redness. Results become noticeable a few days after application.

If you want your hair to be voluminous, this ingredient can help you achieve that. It cleans toxin build-up that can weaken your strands and add to their weight. 

Shampooing with regular formulations does not remove toxin build-ups entirely. In addition, these products leave their own build-up on the scalp. If you are using a dry shampoo, the hair gets even drier.

This activated charcoal-based shampoo, in contrast, works deeper to pull out the dirt that is hidden in the pores. 

This dark ingredient does not leave any remnants on the hair. As the natural moisture balance remains intact, hair does not feel drier. The deep cleansing and moisturization control excess sebum, which reduces oiliness.

Your hair is well-nourished, toxin-free, and hydrated – and this is why it’s a fantastic combination for healthy, radiant, and oil-free hair.

Keratin is another major ingredient of this shampoo and an important element for strong, healthy hair. Keratin is a structural protein that forms the foundation for healthy hair and nails.

This protein strengthens hair strands from within, giving them the ability to fight external pollutants and hair styling treatments that can damage hair and cause oiliness. 

It works by getting absorbed deep into the hair’s cells. Also, it replenishes any need for protein, repairs structural damage, and imparts a smooth and free flow to the strands. 

There is also the combination of sweet almond oil, argan oil, and jojoba oil, which strengthen strands and adds shine to the locks. Almond oil helps in growing healthy hair and treats scalp conditions by inducing antioxidants into the strands. 

Argan oil can remedy a dandruff-hit scalp and restore natural health to the strands. The oil has antibacterial properties, which help remedy scalp conditions. This oil is rich in vitamin E, which aids in hair growth.

Jojoba oil works well in controlling the oiliness in both dry and oily hair. The oil penetrates deep into follicles, providing nourishment and controlling sebum production in oily hair. In dry hair, it controls oil production while keeping the strands and scalp moisturized. Jojoba oil improves hair shine and growth and helps tame frizzy hair.   

This shampoo also brings the benefit of aloe vera to your hair. This extract soothes scalp and hair, seals in moisture, and revitalizes your locks.

Deep detox and strengthened strands! This shampoo is all you need to replace that oily look with a healthy radiance. 

Himalayan Rose Shampoo and Conditioner

Dehydrated locks are a bane of hair growth. Lack of moisture can increase sebum production, making your strands look oily. Bid goodbye to dehydrated locks with the bio-active-powered Himalayan Rose Shampoo and Conditioner. 

This formulation contains rose hydrosol as a major ingredient.

Rose hydrosol is the essence of rose extracted in water. The process used for preparing hydrosols is specific. Vapor from distilled is passed through plant extracts. It absorbs plant material when it passes through, carrying with it the therapeutic and nourishing properties of the plant.

Rose hydrosol comes with a refreshing scent and is rich in flavonoids and antioxidants, which aid in hair growth and nourishment.

Rose hydrosol is backed by sweet almond oil, which has been used as a hair-softening agent for several centuries. This oil has the ability to work at the cellular level of strands and fill gaps in between cells, which results in smooth, soft hair.

The combination of argan and coconut oil is a double bonanza as both these ingredients are known hair nourishers.

Coconut oil builds hair defense by preventing protein loss. In addition, it keeps hair well-moisturized. With these benefits, coconut oil facilitates hair growth.

Argan oil addresses unhealthy scalp conditions, tames frizzy strands, and repairs damaged hair.

The amber packaging of this shampoo and conditioner ensures that the properties of these ingredients are well-preserved for a long.

Apply a dollop of the shampoo to wet hair and massage it into the scalp. Use circular motions to facilitate deeper clean-up. Once done, rinse your hair. Apply the conditioner to lock in the moisture.

WOW Apple Cider Vinegar Shampoo

This shampoo is the perfect hair guard for cold weather and a must-have product in the haircare routine for all seasons!

The WOW Apple Cider Vinegar Shampoo brings the rich benefits of raw apple cider vinegar with nettle leaf extract and sweet almond oil. This shampoo cleanses the hair, removing toxic build-up and oiliness in the process. Additionally, this formulation does not contain any harsh chemicals, which is very important for the health of your hair.

Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV) is a natural ingredient obtained from fermented apples. ACV contains potassium and vitamin B, which promote hair growth. It also contains the goodness of acetic acid vitamin C, which fights against scalp conditions such as dandruff. The antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties of ACV reduce the itchiness of the scalp.

This ingredient is also efficient at removing any product build-up in hair, which puts oiliness in check. It’s important to mention that it gives all these hair benefits without harming the pH balance of the hair.

Sweet almond oil is well-known for softening hair, repairing hair damage such as breakage, and treating flaky scalp. By addressing these hair health-diminishing issues, the oil promotes strong hair growth.

Nettle Leaf Extract is rich in antioxidants and possesses anti-inflammatory properties. Application of this nettle leaf-enriched shampoo soothes the scalp and keeps it free of irritants, thus preventing dry hair and oily build-up.

WOW Skin Science Red Onion Black Seed Oil Shampoo and Conditioner is a powerful hair care duo that has been designed to nourish, protect and strengthen all hair types. The shampoo is infused with the goodness of red onion extract and black seed oil, which are both known for their hair growth-promoting properties. The conditioner, on the other hand, contains hydrolyzed wheat protein, which helps in moisturizing and smoothening hair strands. Together, these two products work to deliver a healthy, strong and lustrous mane.

Get smooth, rich tresses with this natural shampoo!

Oily hair is a more common issue than it seems at the first sight. But if it is affecting your appearance  and the health of your hair, then it is time to address the issue. Visit your dermatologist to seek guidance. If you are using home remedies, then include the above products to see a true difference.